Philippines secures 20M AstraZeneca doses; Pfizer, Sinovac may arrive soon

The Philippine government has secured 20 million doses of AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine, with a tripartite agreement expected to be signed on Thursday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire stated that the vaccination program will prioritize protecting vulnerable groups before aiming for herd immunity due to limited global supply and competition for vaccines.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. indicated that Pfizer, Sinovac, and AstraZeneca vaccines may be among the first to arrive in the Philippines based on current negotiations.

Galvez also mentioned that initial vaccine doses might begin arriving by February 20th, with inoculations possibly starting in late February for priority sectors.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III announced a deal for 25 million doses of Sinovac's COVID-19 vaccine, with the first batch expected to arrive in early February.